TABLE OF CONTENTS Gene DeSantis
The implementation of digital television broadcasting has launched an industry-wide upgrade program both on the RF side and the studio side. Planning how the DTV facility will function is a difficult exercise, and one that will have far-reaching effects. The success of any upgrade project depends in large part on the planning that goes into the effort before any concrete is poured or any cables are pulled.
The need for a project may originate with management, operations staff, technicians, or engineers. In any case, some sort of logical reasoning or a specific production requirement will justify the need. On small projects, such as the addition of one piece of equipment, money must only be available for the purchase and installation costs. When the need justifies a large project, the final cost is not always immediately apparent. The project must be analyzed by dividing it into its constituent parts or elements:
Equipment and parts
Materials
Resources, including money and time needed for project completion
An executive summary or capital project budget request, which contains a detailed breakdown of these elements, can provide the information management needs to determine the return on investment, and to make an informed decision on whether or not to authorize the project.
A capital project budget request, which contains the minimum information, may consist of the following items:
Project name a name that describes the result of the project, such as control room upgrade.
Project number (if...
